Disney World's Coral Reef Restaurant: Dining Under the Sea at Epcot

Just outside the Living Seas at Walt Disney World's Epcot Park is a restaurant that takes you under the sea. The Coral Reef is a dining destination featuring great seafood and an even better view: an entire glass wall looking in to the Living Seas aquarium! Enjoy your meal while watching sea turtles, sharks, and even human divers swim past your table.

Upon entering the Coral Reef and checking in for your reservation, seating is curved like waves along the walls and jellyfish lights decorate the ceiling to add to the undersea feeling. Once inside the restaurant, the tables are positioned in a theater style setting on tiers rising gradually up so all diners have a clear view of the main event: the aquarium. Stretching across the entire wall of the Coral Reef, the aquarium houses enormous sea turtles, rays, groupers, and sharks. Epcot guests can also sign up for a diving program and often swim idly through the sea life to the delight of the diners watching them. Waving to tables and using sign language to communicate, the divers add a whimsical element to the deep blue atmosphere.

Your meal at the Coral Reef begins with crusty bread and butter, and if you are interested in an appetizer, you can't go wrong with the Creamy Lobster Soup. Rich, thick and mild, this soup is worth every calorie. Eaten alongside the bread, what is only the beginning of the meal could actually be a perfect winter evening's complete dinner. Other starters include a Sea and Land combination of shrimp with a cucumber salad and barbecue short rib served on polenta, a New England Cod Cake, and the classic Caesar Salad. Appetizers range from $5 to $11.

The main courses at the Coral Reef, as expected, do focus on seafood. Salmon, catfish and mahi mahi are offered, as well as a shrimp pasta and Alaskan King crab legs. A vegetarian entrée is always available and non seafood lovers are satisfied with a chicken breast entrée, and a delicious New York strip. The adage "never order steak from a seafood restaurant or seafood from a steakhouse" does not apply here. We have ordered the New York strip on several occasions and found it to be consistently excellent. The prices here are not inexpensive at $17 to $32, but the portions are good and the quality is worth it.

And don't forget the desserts! Although the Coral Reef does offer a fluffy Bavarian cheesecake and a deliciously wicked Jack Daniels and Bailey's Irish Cream mousse, the spotlight is firmly on the Chocolate Wave. A hot chocolate cake with a melted creamy center is by far the most popular dessert and has inspired diners to choose the Coral Reef, even more than the delicious seafood! Be aware: the brandied cherries served alongside this amazing dessert pack quite a punch! Prices tend to be around $8 per dessert.

The Coral Reef doesn't forget the kids. Kids' meals are available and include choices of fresh fish, macaroni and cheese and either Lobster soup or fresh vegetables and dip for a starter. Dessert is a choice of either fresh fruit or a make your own sundae.

The Coral Reef is open for lunch and dinner, with very similar menus, and feels like a world away from the rest of the theme park. Advance reservations are strongly recommended and the restaurant is both a dining plan participant and takes the Disney Dining Experience card.

Enjoy a delicious meal with a view under this world at the Coral Reef at Epcot. Truly an experience that will be a unique and memorable part of your vacation!